Borussia Dortmund Football Formation

Starting Lineup

KOBEL · SÜLE (Y. COUTO) · ANTON · BENSEBAINI · RYERSON · GROSS (NMECHA) · SABITZER · BRANDT (DURANVILLE) ((CHUKWUEMEKA)) · SVENSSON · GUIRASSY · ADEYEMI (M. BEIER)

Borussia Dortmund aims to play a direct and vertical style of football through a 3-5-2 formation. This lineup is built to win the ball high up the pitch and strike quickly through transitions. The team relies on aggressive pressing and rapid movement to catch opponents off guard.

Kobel guards the goal for Borussia Dortmund as the unit works to defend in a compact mid-block. The back three features Anton at the center as a dominant presence in the air to clear the lines. To his sides, Süle acts as a ball playing defender who can carry the ball forward, while Bensebaini covers the left side of the defense. This back three stays narrow to protect the middle and forces the opposition to play wide.

The midfield relies on a three man midfield with a carrier to control the central areas. Sabitzer sits in front of the defense to shield the back three and intercept passes. Gross works alongside Brandt (Duranville) to connect the defensive and attacking lines. Gross is known for his passing range and ability to recycle possession under pressure, while Brandt (Duranville) seeks to play through the lines to find the forwards. Ryerson and Svensson provide width from the wide midfield roles, allowing the team to stretch the defense during the attacking phase.

The attack utilizes two forwards in a partnership to pin the last defender. Adeyemi plays as the left striker, using his immense pace to hit in behind on the transition. Guirassy acts as the right striker to hold up the ball and find the feet of the striker coming from deep. These two work in combinations to create runs in behind or pull defenders out of position. The front line is tasked to press from the front to force a long ball from the opposition.

This formation offers significant tactical advantages through wide overloads when Ryerson and Svensson push up to overlap the winger. The presence of Sabitzer and Gross provides stability to win the second ball in central areas. Dortmund can also switch play quickly to isolate wide players in one on one situations once the ball is won high up the pitch.

Borussia Dortmund uses this 3-5-2 to control the central zone while remaining lethal on the break. It is a formation best suited for facing teams that play with a high line and leave space behind their defenders.